Works of John Bunyan Volume II Part 90

The prison-keeper took no care at all, Of ought that he entrusted him withal; Because he saw that G.o.d was with him, and All things did prosper that he took in hand.

CHAP. XL.

And now, whilst Joseph in confinement lay, It came to pa.s.s upon a certain day, That Pharaoh King of Egypt, being wroth With his chief butler, and chief baker both, For their offences, put them both in ward, In the house of the captain of the guard: Into the place where Joseph was confin'd, Unto whose custody they were resign'd; And he attended on them in the prison.

And there they were continue'd for a season, During which time it chanced both of them Did in the same night dream each man his dream: Which dreams, according to interpretation, Had to themselves particular relation.

And Joseph coming early the next day, Into the room where Pharaoh's servants lay, Beheld their countenances much dejected: Wherefore he said, What evil hath effected This melancholy frame, what is't that causes These marks of discontentment in your faces?

Then said they, We have dream'd each man his dream, And there is no man to interpret them.

Then Joseph said, Your dreams to me make known.

Interpretations are from G.o.d alone.

Then unto Joseph the chief butler told His dream, and said, Methought I did behold A vine, whereon three branches did appear, Which seem'd to bud, to blossom, and to bear Cl.u.s.ters of full ripe grapes, which to my thinking I press'd into the cup for Pharaoh's drinking.

And Joseph said, Thy dream doth signify, Thou shalt enjoy thy former dignity: The branches which thou sawest are three days, In which King Pharaoh will his butler raise And to thy place again will thee restore, And thou shalt serve him as thou'st done before: But do not, when it shall be well with thee, Forget me, but show kindness unto me, And unto Pharaoh represent my case, That I may be deliver'd from this place; For I was stol'n out of the Hebrew's land, And also here am wrongfully detained.

Then the chief baker having understood, That the interpretation was so good, He told his dream to Joseph too, and said, Lo, I had three white baskets on my head, And in the uppermost there seem'd to be, Of baked provision, great variety, Fit for King Pharaoh's table, and there came A flock of birds, and seem'd to eat the same.

And Joseph said, Thy dream portends thy fall, For at the end of three days Pharaoh shall Lift up thy head, and hang thee on a tree, So that the birds shall feast themselves on thee.

And on the third day Pharaoh made a feast Unto his servants, and among the rest The butler and the baker were brought forth, The day being kept in memory of his birth.

And to his place King Pharaoh did restore His butler, and he served him as before.

But the chief baker he condemn'd to die, According unto Joseph's prophecy.

Yet though the butler had regain'd his place, He was unmindful of poor Joseph's case.

CHAP. XLI.

And now when two years' time was fully past, And Joseph from confinement not releast, It came to pa.s.s that Pharaoh dream'd, and He seemed by a river-side to stand, Whence he seven fat well-favour'd kine beheld, Come up and grazed in the neighbouring field.

And after them there came up seven more, Lean and ill-favour'd, and did soon devour The seven fat kine which came up just before.

So Pharaoh 'woke, and mus'd awhile, and then Soon as his sleep his dream returned again: Wherein he saw upon one stalk there stood Seven ears of corn exceeding rank and good, And seven others, with the east wind blasted, And withered, sprang up, and quickly wasted The seven good ears, and quite devour'd them: And Pharaoh 'woke, and lo, it was a dream.

And in the morning he was discontent, And for the wise men and magicians sent, To ease his mind; but there was none of them That could interpret to the king his dream.

Then the chief butler, making his address Unto King Pharaoh, said, I now confess My former faults, for when the king was wroth With his chief butler, and chief baker both, It pleased him, to put us both in ward, In the house of the captain of the guard: And in one night we dream'd a dream, each one According to 's interpretation: And there was then an Hebrew there in ward, A youth that serv'd the captain of the guard: To whom we told whereof we had been dreaming, And he interpreted to us the meaning; And what he said fell out accordingly, Me he restored to my dignity, But told the baker he should surely die.

Then Pharaoh sent a messenger in haste, And Joseph from the dungeon was releas'd: And having shav'd himself and chang'd his clothes, Into the presence of the king he goes.

To whom King Pharaoh said, I have been told Thou canst the meaning of a dream unfold: Now I have dream'd a dream, and there is none Can give me the interpretation.

And Joseph said, I cannot do this thing Myself, but G.o.d shall answer thee, oh king.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, In my dream, As I stood by a river's side, there came Up from the river seven well-favour'd kine, And fed upon the banks, all fat and fine, And after them there came up seven more, Lean and ill-favour'd, and exceeding poor: Such as the land of Egypt never bred, And on the seven well-favour'd kine they fed, And eat them up, but 'twas not to be seen That they had eat them, they look'd still so thin.

So I awoke, and mus'd awhile, and then Soon as my sleep, my dream return'd again; Wherein I saw upon one stalk there stood Seven ears of corn, exceeding rank and good: Then seven others, with the east wind blasted, And withered, came up, and quickly wasted The seven good ears, and quite devoured them.

And being unsatisfied about my dream, I sought unto the wise men of the nation, But they could give me no interpretation.

And Joseph said, Thy dream, oh king! is one, G.o.d shews to Pharaoh what he will have done.

The seven fat kine and seven good ears agree To shew, seven years of plenty there shall be.

The seven lean kine, and seven blasted ears, Denote there shall be famine seven years.

This I declare to Pharaoh, G.o.d doth shew To thee, oh king! what he's about to do.

Behold seven years of plenty are at hand, Which shall be very great throughout the land.

And after them seven years of famine shall Arise, and shall consume the land, and all The former plenty shall not be perceiv'd, So much the land with famine shall be griev'd.

And since the dream was doubl'd to the king, It is because G.o.d hath decreed the thing, And on this land the same will shortly bring: Now therefore if I may the king advise, Let him look out a man discreet and wise, And make him overseer of the land: And subst.i.tute men under his command To gather a fifth part for public use, Of what the seven plenteous years produce; And in the cities lay it up for store, Against the famine in the land grows sore; And let it be repos'd in Pharaoh's hand, That so the famine may not waste the land.

And when King Pharaoh and his servants heard The propositions Joseph had preferr'd, They were acceptable in Pharaoh's eyes, And in the eyes of all his court likewise: So that he said, Can such an one be found?

A man in whom G.o.d's Spirit doth abound.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, Forasmuch As G.o.d's great kindness unto thee is such, As to reveal this thing to thee, I know No man so wise or so discreet as thou.

Be thou therefore the ruler of the land, And let my people be at thy command; Thou shalt in all things be as great as I, Save only in the royal dignity.

Behold this day I have advanced thee Said he, to be a man of high degree Throughout the land. And therewithal the king Bestow'd on Joseph his own royal ring; And him with robes of state did richly deck, And put a chain of gold about his neck, And in his second chariot made him ride, And as he past, Bow down the knee they cry'd, With so great honour was he dignifi'd.

And Pharaoh said moreover, I am king, No man shall dare to purpose any thing, Or move his hand or foot in all this nation, Unless it shall be by thy approbation.

He also gave to Joseph a new name, And for a wife gave him a princely dame, Who was the daughter of a priest of fame.

(Now Joseph had attained his thirtieth year, When he before King Pharaoh did appear.) And he went out from Pharaoh's presence, and Began his progress over all the land.

Now in the seven plenteous years, the field Did its increase in great abundance yield.

And Joseph gather'd all that plenteous crop, And in th' adjacent cities laid it up: Which like unto the sand upon the sh.o.r.e, Did so abound that he could count no more, Such was the plenty that the earth then bore.

And unto Joseph there was born a son, Even by the daughter of the priest of On, Before the years of famine were begun; The which he call'd Mana.s.seh, for, said he, G.o.d makes me to forget my misery, And all my father's house. And after him Was born another he called Ephraim; For G.o.d, saith he, hath made me to possess Abundance in the land of my distress.

And when the seven plenteous years were gone, The seven years of famine next came on, As Joseph said, and there was a great dearth In every nation throughout all the earth; But in the land of Egypt there was bread.

And when the people almost famished, Complained to the king, he bade them go To Joseph, and whate'er he said to do.

And now the famine daily waxing sore, Joseph began to bring forth of his store, Which he had laid up for the public good; To whom th' Egyptians came and bought their food.

And people from all countries far and near To Egypt came to buy provision there; For in all lands the famine was severe.

CHAP. XLII.

And now, behold, when Jacob had been told That there was corn in Egypt to be sold, He said unto his sons, Why stand ye thus?

Go down to Egypt and buy corn for us; That so our craving stomachs may be fed, And not be here and die for lack of bread.

Thus Jacob's ten sons were to Egypt sent, But Joseph's brother Benjamin ne'er went.

For why, his father said, I will not send him, Lest peradventure some ill chance attend him.

And Joseph's brethren came among the rest To buy provision, for they were distress'd.

Now he was governor of all the land, And all the corn of Egypt in his hand.

Wherefore his brethren, when they came to treat With him for corn, bow'd down e'en at his feet: And he no sooner saw them but he knew them, And show'd himself extremely strange unto them: And very roughly asked who they were, From whence they came, and what their bus'ness there.

And they made answer, We thy servants from The land of Canaan to buy food are come.

Now tho' they knew him not, yet he knew them, And calling now to mind his former dream, He said, I do suspect ye're come as spies, To see in what distress our country lies.

But they reply'd again, My lord, we're come Only to buy some food to carry home.

Think not thy servants spies, but true men rather, For we are all the children of one father.

Nay, nay, said he, but ye are come to pry Into the nation's great necessity.

But they reply'd again, Thy servants are Inhabitants of Canaan, and declare, That we're twelve brethren, whom one man begot, The youngest is at home, and one is not Well then, said Joseph, hereby shall I know, Whether ye're spies, as I have said, or no; Now by the life of Pharaoh do I swear, Until your brother come I'll keep you here.

Send one of you and fetch the lad to me, And you shall be confin'd, so shall there be A proof of what you say before mine eyes, Or by the life of Pharaoh ye are spies.

Then he for three days put them all in ward, And on the third day said, I have regard To equity, therefore if ye are true And honest men, do this; let one of you Be bound in prison here, and let the other Go carry corn home and bring me your brother; So shall ye be approv'd and shall not die.

And they prepared to do accordingly.

And as they were discoursing to each other, They said, We were in fault about our brother, In that we saw his soul in great distress, And yet were so exceeding pitiless, As not to hearken to his earnest cries: This is the cause of these our miseries.

And Reuben said, You know I did forewarn, And beg that you would do the child no harm; But you would not do then as I desir'd, And now his blood is at our hands requir'd.

Thus they discours'd about the cause that brought Their present trouble, but they little thought That Joseph knew of what they did confer, Because he spake by an interpreter.

And he being moved at their words withdrew To weep, and then returned to renew His former talk; and choosing Simeon out, Before them all he bound him hand and foot.

And gave command to fill their sacks with grain, And to restore their money to 'em again; And for their journey gave them food to eat; In such sort Joseph did his brethren treat.

Then with their a.s.ses laden towards home They went, and when into their inn they come As one of them his sack of corn unty'd, To give his a.s.s some provender, he spy'd His money in his sack again return'd; Wherefore he call'd his brethren and inform'd Them that his money was returned back.

Behold, said he, it is here in my sack.

On sight whereof their hearts were sore dismay'd, And being very much affrighted said, What is the thing that G.o.d's about to do, That we do thus these troubles undergo?

Then coming to their father they related, After what sort they were in Egypt treated: And said, the man that's lord of all the land, And hath the store of corn all in his hand, Spake roughly to us, and affirm'd that we Were come the weakness of the land to see.

To whom we said, We are all honest men; We are twelve brethren, whereof here are ten, And two elsewhere, all which one man begot, The youngest's with our father, one is not.

Then said the ruler of the land, Hereby Shall I make proof of your integrity: Let one of you continue here with me, And take provision for your family; And get you gone and bring the youngest hither, That so I may be satisfied whether Ye are true men, as you make protestation, Then I'll release him, and give toleration To you to come and traffic in the nation.

And now behold as they their sacks unloos'd To empty out their corn, there was unclos'd In each man's sack his money therein bound, As when they came from home, which when they found, Both they and their old father were afraid; And to his sons afflicted Jacob said, You of my children have bereaved me, Joseph and Simeon now do cease to be; And of my Benjamin you would deprive me, These things do ev'n into distraction drive me.

Then Reuben said, My father I resign To thy disposing these two sons of mine; Give me the lad, and let them both be slain, If I do not return him safe again.

But he reply'd, I will not let him go, For why his brother is deceas'd you know; And if upon the way some evil thing Should happen to the lad, you then will bring These my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave; For he's the only comfort that I have.

CHAP. XLIII.

And now the famine still continuing sore, And having spent all their late purchas'd store, Their father bids them to go down for more To whom when Judah had himself address'd, He said, The man did solemnly protest, If we without our brother came again, To seek his face would be for us in vain: If therefore thou wilt send him, well and good, Then will we willingly go down for food; But if thou wilt not, we must let thee know, We are resolved that we will not go: For, as I said before, the ruler swore Without him we should see his face no more.

Then Israel said, Why were you so unkind To say you had a brother left behind?

The man, said they, was so inquisitive, He asked if our father were alive, Or if we had a brother, whereunto Accordingly we answer'd, could we know If he would bid us bring the lad or no?

Moreover Judah to his father said, If thou wilt but entrust me with the lad, We will begone, that so both thou and we May be preserved with our family: I will be surety for him, if I fail To bring him back, on me the blame entail; For if we had not lingered, we had been By this time here the second time again.

Well then, said Isr'el, if it must be so, My sons, take my advice before you go; Provide some of the best fruits of the land, To give the man a present from your hand; Balm, myrrh, and spices, and a little honey, Some nuts and almonds, and take double money, For peradventure it was a mistake, In that our money was returned back.

And take your brother Benjamin and go, And G.o.d Almighty grant the man may shew You mercy, that you may bring back again Your other brother, and my Benjamin, And if I am bereav'd, so have I been.

Then did the men prepare the present, and They took their money double in their hand With Benjamin, and down to Egypt went, Who unto Joseph did themselves present.

Who, when he saw that Benjamin was come, Order'd his steward to conduct them home, And to provide a dinner, for, said he, I do intend these men shall dine with me.

Then did the steward as his master said, And brought them home, whereat they were afraid, And said, The man hath caus'd us to come in, Because our money was return'd again; To take occasion now to fall upon us, And make us slaves, and take our a.s.ses from us.

Unto the steward they drew nigh therefore, And thus communed with him at the door: O sir, say they, we came at first indeed To buy provision to supply our need; And in our inn as we our sacks unloos'd, We found our money therein all inclos'd In its full weight, whereat surpris'd with fear, Not knowing who had put our money there, We now have brought it in full weight again, And other money too, to buy more grain.